Friday, September 29, 2017

Book Blitz: Ugly Beautiful Girl by Tracy Krimmer


Ugly Beautiful Girl banner

This is my stop during the book blitz for Ugly Beautiful Girl by Tracy Krimmer. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 27 September till 3 October. See the tour schedule here.

Ugly Beautiful GirlUgly Beautiful Girl
By Tracy Krimmer
Genre: Coming of Age/ Contemporary Romance
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: September 27, 2017

Blurb:

Nerd. Weird. Ugly. That's me. And I don't want it to be anymore.

Now is my time to make my mark on the world. My college roommate doesn't make it easy. Neither does her brother, Jesse, but for completely different reasons. He makes me feel things I've never felt before.

Wanted. Important. Beautiful.

But we can't be together because it isn't real. Someone like him could never fall for someone like me. We aren't meant to fit together.

Even if I fall apart without him.

You can find Ugly Beautiful Girl on Goodreads

You can buy Ugly Beautiful Girl here on Amazon

Ugly Beautiful Girl is available on Kindle Unlimited

Tracy KrimmerAbout the Author:

Tracy's love of writing began at nine years old. She wrote stories about aliens at school, machines that did homework for you, and penguins. Now she pens books and short stories about romance. She loves to read a great book, whether it be romance or science fiction, or any genre in between, or pop popcorn and catch up on her favorite TV shows or movies. She's been known to crush a candy or two as well. Her loves include fitness, reading, coffee, dogs, and naps (not in that order), and her dislikes are blue cheese, cold weather, and burpees.

You can find and contact Tracy here:


Giveaway

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Ugly Beautiful Girl. One winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift card.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


banner Lola's Blog Tours

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Spotlight: The Forgotten Carols



Description of the Show:

The Forgotten Carols stage performance tells the story of Connie Lou, a nurse whose empty life is changed when Uncle John, a new patient she is attending, recounts the story of Christ’s birth as told by little known characters in the nativity story. The accounts from the Innkeeper, the Shepherd and others help the nurse discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas, ultimately encouraging her to open her heart to the joy of this special season.

Ticket Information:

Here is a link to purchase tickets to see the Forgotten Carols.

http://www.forgottencarols.com/shows/

The Forgotten Carols is showing in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Texas, and New Mexico!



Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Book Blitz: Once in a Lifetime by Kathryn R. Biel


Once in a Lifetime banner

This is my stop during the book blitz for Once in a Lifetime by Kathryn R. Biel. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 11 till 24 September. See the tour schedule here.

Once in a LifetimeOnce in a Lifetime
By Kathryn R. Biel
Genre: Women’s Fiction/ Chick Lit
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 5 September 2017

Blurb:

Ten years ago, the Sassy Cats were at the top of the charts until Callie Smalls walked away to pursue her career in fashion and television. The other four members—Angie, Tabitha, Mandy, and Daphne—were left to fend for themselves and continue on with their lives.

That is, until the day when Callie decides to book a gig for the group at a major music festival, without talking to her former band mates. Scattered across the country, at different points in life, can they rekindle the magic in the music?

A soccer mom who's husband doesn't know about her past. A fading star, sacrificing all to stay in the spotlight just one second more. A party girl, challenged with her most important role yet. A tiger mom, fighting for her son. A desperate woman, unhappy and alone.

A lot can change in the course of a decade. Will it be harmony or hatred for the Sassy Cats?

You can find Once in a Lifetime on Goodreads

You can buy Once in a Lifetime here:


Excerpt:

Mandy:


Every so often I hear one of our songs on the radio. If people are around, I try to keep my face neutral, a skill I perfected way back when. But when I'm alone, or if it's just me and the kids, I've been known to let loose and belt it out. After, I feel like an addict who's relapsed. Both elated and disappointed in myself all at the same time.

The van's radio is usually playing a "Kool Kidz" CD or is on NPR, so it's not like it happens that often. But when it does, a crushing guilt and sadness wash over me. That's what's going on in this moment, as I'm standing in the middle of the grocery store. It's a rare trip on my own. Myles was home, so I begged him to watch the kids while I ran to the store. Tenley is over at a friend's house, so he's only got the twins to keep an eye on. Now that Colin and Madden are in school all day, they're much more manageable. That's what Myles says when I tell him I'm drowning. Part of me wanted to go for a pedicure before I went shopping to give him more time to see how manageable they are. The last time they were manageable for me, I ended up cleaning slime off the ceiling. The cathedral ceiling. I still don't know how they did it. And by the way, that stuff stains.

But I really shouldn't stall, because I know the longer I take, the more likely I am to get a frantic call from my frazzled husband. That's the last thing I want. Powering the shopping cart up and down the aisles, I toss one item after another into the basket. To an observer, it may look haphazard, but I know exactly what I'm doing. I've got this down to a science. On those rare instances when Myles offers to go to the store for me (okay, that one time when I threw my back out), I can't let him go. We've been together for almost nine years. Tenley is seven, and Colin and Madden are almost six. He still doesn't know what any of us like to eat. He doesn't get that I buy food for the kids to take in their lunches, and that a large, thirty-two ounce tub of yogurt isn't the same as the individual cups. It's not like we have to pinch our pennies.

He simply doesn't get it. No one does.

The music has a tin-like sound to it, and I can barely hear over the beeping of the register and the hum of the conveyor belt. My heart stops for a minute, my face flushing. I bend my head forward, letting my hair fall over to form a screen. In my head, the choreography runs through, engrained in my brain from thousands of rehearsals and performances. It's all I can do not to dance. There's part of me that wants to bust it out, full on, right here and now. Can you imagine if some dumpy housewife did that in aisle nine?

Frankly, I don't even understand my life sometimes. This was all I've ever wanted. My life before—I never wanted that. It was thrust upon me in a whirlwind of decisions made by others. I longed for quiet and stability and normalcy.

I've got that now. So why do I feel like screaming?

It's because I'm tired. Tired and worn out and overweight. Frumpy, slovenly, run-down, fatigued—I could go on and on with the synonyms. I'm a mom of three kids. It's part and parcel. And it's all I ever wanted.

Kathryn R. BielAbout the Author:

Telling stories of resilient women, Kathryn R. Biel hails from Upstate New York where her most important role is being mom and wife to an incredibly understanding family who don't mind fetching coffee and living in a dusty house. In addition to being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage insurance companies to fund her client's needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of novel that she likes to read. Kathryn is the author of ten women's fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, and chick lit works, including Live for This and Made for Me. Please follow Kathryn on her website, www.kathrynrbiel.com and sign up for her newsletter at bit.ly/KRBNews.

You can find and contact Kathryn here:


Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Cover Reveal: Drowning Sandy by Sarah Daley




 
Sarah Daley lives in Arizona with her best friend and husband, Chris, their adorable monster child, and neurotic dog.

At the age of six, she became a reading machine. Devouring everything she could possibly get her hands on. In high school she almost failed English three times because of her detest for writing book reports. Today, Sarah writes whatever stories haunt her dreams, and struggles to focus on one idea at a time. When she isn’t enjoying time with her family, or writing, you will find her nose stuck in a book, or out walking and enjoying the sunshine.

Drowning Sandy is her debut novella!

  

Connect with the Author here: 




  The water is calling...

and Sandy can no longer resist the urge to unleash her mermaid form. But a simple swim in Lake Ontario ends when she discovers the truth of her own banishment. When long time crush, Alardo, seems to shift in a direction she never dreamed possible, Sandy must make a choice — mermaid or human? Once she chooses, she can never go back.



First lets take a look inside the book with a 
Snippet:



And now for the New Cover
************
*******
****
**
*
*
*




Isn't it lovely!!!




To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 



Monday, September 18, 2017

Blog Tour/Review: Wish Me Love by Michele Ashman Bell



Wish Me Love, by Michele Ashman Bell
2017, 288p, Clean Contemporary Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Charlotte Wells does not date. After surviving a broken engagement, she’s taken a leave of absence from the social scene. So when her best friend and coworker, Jack, challenges her to get back in the game, she’s not so sure she’s ready to play. But ultimately, curiosity gets the best of her, and Charlotte accepts the daunting challenge: she will attempt to have fifty first dates in her effort to find “the one.” Unfortunately, she quickly realizes that the dating pool mostly holds clown fish as she goes on one lousy outing after another. Without a good man in sight as summer ends, Charlotte cuts her losses and sets her sights on a fun-filled trip to her cousin’s destination wedding in Brazil.

Brazil is a land of beautiful sights and delicious offerings—including Max, the charming brother of her cousin’s new husband. Max has all the makings of a Prince Charming in soccer cleats, and Charlotte’s happily ever after seems to be within reach. But love is a funny thing, and soon Charlotte finds herself wondering: could it be that her true love has been right in front of her all along?

I must admit that one of the things that appealed to me the most about this book was Charlotte accepting a challenge to go on fifty first dates. I knew that alone would be entertaining, and it definitely was! Those types of situations bring back memories and make me cringe and laugh. Charlotte has not had good luck in the love department and her best friend, Jack, wants to help her out so he issues that challenge to her. She gets along well with Jack, but he's engaged, so he's obviously not available for her to date. Her cousin is getting married in Brazil at the end of the summer, and Charlotte decides to go. While there, she meets Max, and they are mutually attracted to each other. Other areas in her life are also going well and life is looking up.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end! It's full of great characters, as well as a couple of not-so-great ones, and it was fun to tag along on Charlotte's journey to find love. She's easy to like and relate to and I felt for her when she was going on some truly awful dates. The main characters are LDS ("Mormon") so there are some religious references but this book can be enjoyed by anyone that enjoys clean contemporary romance!


Michele Ashman Bell grew up in St. George, Utah. In the fourth grade, her teacher wrote on her report card that she had a tendency to daydream and would probably do well with creative writing. Her love of books and learning about people and places has helped make her teacher's prediction come true. Michele is the author of many books and Christmas stories. She is married and is the mother of four children and grandma of three granddaughters and one grandson. Aside from supporting her children in their many activities, she has taught fitness classes for over thirty years and currently teaches Zumba. She loves to travel and do research for her books, and her favorite foods are chocolate and cinnamon bears.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:


Friday, September 15, 2017

Blog Tour/Review: Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden



Love Remains, by Sarah M. Eden
2017, 372p, Clean Historical Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the tour host, which did not affect my review in any way



For nearly a year, Tavish O’Connor has carried the crushing weight of his family’s future on his shoulders. He has taken on the care of his youngest brother, Finbarr, who lost his eyesight in a terrible accident. But the lad needs more than Tavish can provide. Finbarr needs hope.

Cecily Attwater specializes in hope. As a tutor to the newly blind, she has dedicated her life to helping others overcome the obstacles she herself has conquered. Her new assignment in a remote corner of Wyoming proves trickier than usual: Finbarr refuses to learn. To make matters worse, his family—and the other Irish townspeople—are less than thrilled to discover an Englishwoman in their haven.

Cecily’s only hope lies in securing the cooperation of her pupil’s brother, Tavish, who happens to be her harshest critic and quite possibly the most frustrating man she’s ever known.

For Finbarr’s sake, Tavish and Cecily forge an uneasy alliance that, as the weeks pass, tiptoes toward something deeper than either dares admit or face, and toward a future they know to be impossible. There can be no hope of a happy outcome for an Irish man and an English woman amongst a people reeling from violence and centuries of hatred between their two homelands.


I loved the first two books in this series and was excited to read Tavish's story, especially since he's my favorite character! I am happy to say that this book didn't disappoint!

The O'Connor family has been through a lot over the past year and are in survival mode. Finbarr lost his sight and is having a hard time coping. He's currently living with Tavish, who works hard to help everyone else while ignoring his own heartache. Cecily Attwater comes to Hope Springs to help Finbarr learn to adjust to his blindness. She's an Englishwoman and the O'Connor family doesn't hide the fact that they hold that against her. She definitely has her hands full with this assignment.

I absolutely love these characters! They are flawed and easy to relate to. They face real and difficult challenges. The romance between Tavish and Cecily built slowly over time and developed naturally. Sarah Eden is an amazing storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end! This is a series that I would recommend reading in order so that you can get the full effect of Hope Springs and all its wonderful characters.



Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award's "2014 Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.


Other Books in the Hope Springs series:
Longing for Home
Hope Springs
My Dearest Love

Regency Romances:
The Kiss of a Stranger
Glimmer of Hope
An Unlikely Match
For Elise
All Regency Collection
British Isles Collection

The Jonquil Brothers series:
Friends and Foes
Drops of Gold
As You Are
A Fine Gentleman

The Lancaster Family series:
Seeking Persephone
Courting Miss Lancaster
Romancing Daphne

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

September 11
My Book A Day
Smiling Book Reviews
Peggy Urry

September 12
Bookworm Lisa
Wishful Endings
Getting Your Read On

September 13
LDS Writer Mom
Min Reads and Reviews

September 14
Literary Time Out
Heidi Reads
Singing Librarian Books

September 15
Katie's Clean Book Collection
Why Not? Because I Said So!
Mel’s Shelves

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Book Review: Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone


Click'd, by Tamara Ireland Stone
2017, 208p, Middle-Grade Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Allie Navarro can't wait to show her best friends the app she built at CodeGirls summer camp. CLICK'D pairs users based on common interests and sends them on a fun (and occasionally rule-breaking) scavenger hunt to find each other. And it's a hit. By the second day of school, everyone is talking about CLICK'D.

Watching her app go viral is amazing. Leaderboards are filling up! Everyone's making new friends. And with all the data Allie is collecting, she has an even better shot at beating her archenemy, Nathan, at the upcoming youth coding competition. But when Allie discovers a glitch that threatens to expose everyone's secrets, she has to figure out how to make things right, even if that means sharing the computer lab with Nathan. Can Allie fix her app, stop it from doing any more damage, and win back the friends it hurt-all before she steps on stage to present CLICK'D to the judges?

New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone combines friendship, coding, and lots of popcorn in her fun and empowering middle-grade debut.


Allie spent the summer building an app she's named Click'd and she's been chosen to enter it in a competition. It's an app to help users find others whose interests closely match their own, and open the door to form new friendships. It goes viral, which excites her, until she learns that there's a huge glitch in it. She has a huge decision to make which will affect everything, from her friendships to the competition.

This was a cute, fun read! Allie's app idea holds no appeal to me but when I told my 13-year-old daughter about it, she thought it sounded like a lot of fun! Which made me feel a bit old, haha. I liked Allie's character, as well as her friends. The glitch in her app causes some hurt feelings between her and some of her friends and it was interesting to see how that situation was handled. She has a nemesis, Nathan, who is also entered in the competition. He has the skills to help her but she has to decide if she can trust him.

This is definitely a middle-grade read but as an adult, I still found it enjoyable. It's a fast read and held my attention as I was interested to see what Allie would do and what would happen to her app. I like the message of this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle-grade fiction!


TAMARA IRELAND STONE is the author of Time and Time Again, a collection of her two novels Time Between Us and Time After Time, and the New York Times best seller Every Last Word.

A Silicon Valley native, she has worked in the technology industry all her life, first testing Atari game boards in her parents’ garage, and later, co-founding a woman-owned marketing strategy firm, where she worked with small startups as well as some of the world’s largest software companies. She enjoys skiing, music, movies, and spending time with her husband and two children. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Listen to playlists and learn more about her books at www.tamarairelandstone.com.



Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Blog Tour/Review: Mind Games by Stephanie Black



Mind Games, by Stephanie Black
2017, 312p, Clean Mystery/Suspense
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Psychologist Natalie Marsh’s dream is now reality: her mental health services clinic has opened and is housed in an elegant, newly renovated nineteenth-century building. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with the clinic’s presence, including Heather Osbourne, a troubled young woman who wholly objects to the occupation of the building. Heather has spent years wandering the halls of the abandoned structure, convinced she’s communing with her ancestor’s ghost. When Natalie thwarts Heather’s attempt to leap from a window, the shaken psychologist soon realizes Heather’s failed jump is merely one piece of a disturbing puzzle. Greed and deceit are weaving a web around Natalie, and someone will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get what they want. Stretched to her breaking point, Natalie struggles to learn the truth, but only one thing is clear: nothing is as it seems.

I loved the first book that featured Natalie Marsh (Not a Word--you can learn more about it here) and was excited to read more! This book did not disappoint. Once again, Natalie finds herself in the middle of a mystery, and needs to find out who is trying to shut down her mental health clinic. There are plenty of suspects and I had no idea who to trust (well, besides Natalie and Gideon). This book is full of every imaginable character--some I didn't think I could trust but could; some I thought I could trust but couldn't; and some that I knew weren't trustworthy from the beginning.

I loved the way the author built up the suspense and tied multiple storylines together in the end. I wasn't sure how it would end and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There is a touch of romance, but if that's what you're looking for, you will be disappointed. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys clean suspense. I'm not sure if there will be more stories about Natalie Marsh (not sure how much more she could take before having a breakdown herself), but whatever Stephanie Black chooses to write, I will be reading it!


Stephanie Black has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages, and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a three-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense, most recently for Cold as Ice (2010). Stephanie was born in Utah and has lived in various places, including Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, and Limerick, Ireland. She currently lives in northern California and enjoys spending time with her husband Brian and their five children. She is a fan of chocolate, cheesecake, and her husband’s homemade bread.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Schedule:


*Sept. 15th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/
http://brooklynberrydesigns.com/
http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Grand Finale Blitz: Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for

Sunsets at Seaside
By Addison Cole

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - About the Series

Sweet with just enough heat...

Under the name Addison Cole, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster is releasing each of her beloved, and steamy, Love in Bloom titles in a “sweet with heat” version. The new Sweet with Heat series has no explicit love scenes or harsh language, but her voice is naturally passionate, and because of that, the stories convey all of the heat you expect between two people in love (within the confines of the “sweet” genre). The stories and characters in Sweet with Heat remain mostly the same as the Love in Bloom series, however, in addition to the omission of graphic sexual scenes and cursing, certain characters have also been repositioned.


She stared at the phone, unable to believe she’d been seconds away from winning what she was sure was her father’s baseball and had lost it. She hated phones. She hated eBay. She hated bidding against nonexistent people in tiny little stupid phones. She hated the whole thing so much she turned and hurled the phone over the deck.

Wow.

That felt really, really good.


"I loved reading this book. I like the way these longtime friends continue to hang out each summer and always have each other’s backs. . . . I highly recommend this book to other readers. It is a really good read and held my attention well throughout."


"Charming and whimsical romance with a bite set in Cape Cod. The story flowed smoothly and had just enough tender and passion to leave some to the imagination."

Wishful Endings - Review

"SUNSETS AT SEASIDE is a romance story about a woman who is trying to find out what a normal life would be like and a man who has been largely labelled for his wealth and business acumen who find a chance for love with each other. There is a group of friends who are the focus of other stories in the series who bring a family/small-town feel to this story. Readers can expect some drama, romantic tension, and the usual twist in the story that creates a barrier to these two finding their happily-ever-after."


“Ouch! What the…” A deep male voice rose up to her.

Jessica crouched and peered between the balusters. Standing on the gravel road just a few feet from her building, in a pair of black running shorts and no shirt, was the nicest butt she’d ever seen, attached to a tanned back that was glistening with sweat and rippled with muscles. Holy moly, they didn’t make orchestra musicians with bodies like that. Not that she’d know, considering that they were always properly covered in black suits and white shirts, but could a body like that even be hidden?

Harlie's Books - Review

"...I loved the book clean and dirty. I’ve read Ms. Cole and her alter ego, Ms. Foster before and she never disappoints. I can’t wait to dive into the other sweet books in this series."


Becky on Books - Excerpt

“Guess it’s just you and me.”

Jamie’s rich voice slid over her, bringing goose bumps to her arms and heating her up even more. How the heck did he manage to pull off laid-back and sensual at the same time?

Kindle and Me - Promo


“So, you claim you’re not a phone thrower or a kisser. What kind of girl are you?” His arm remained around her waist as they walked down the gravel road toward her apartment.

She shrugged. “I’m not really sure. That’s kind of why I took the summer off. To find out.”


"Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole is the 4th book in the Sweet with Heat Seaside Summer Series. Jessica and Jamie are such a sweet loving couple. I adored them from the beginning. It was one of those love at first sight things. The immediately fell for each other and I immediately fell for them. . . . This is the second book I have read in the series and I absolutely can not wait to read more."


"I won’t ruin the story for you, but this is typical romantic fare with the masterful writing of Addison Cole. It is very easy to see why her books are so well-received. She writes with passion and description that often makes things a bit hot and heavy.. . . . this is a romance novel that I definitely recommend to those who want to disappear into a romantic story with passion, humor, and relatable characters."


Jamie shook his head. “Vera is going to love you, and I have a feeling I’m going to be left in the dust tomorrow. Maybe I need to rethink my position on this date.”

Her mouth went dry, and she dropped her eyes.

With their hands still entwined, he used his finger to lift her chin and gazed into her eyes. He leaned down and kissed away all the worry that had coiled in her belly.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

Sunsets at Seaside

(Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers #4)

by Addison Cole

Sweet Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 308 pages
August 23rd 2017

Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers features a group of fun, flirty, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They’re sassy, flawed, and so easy to relate to, you’ll be begging to enter their circle of friends!

Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole is the sweet edition of New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster's steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets. The stories and characters remain the same, and convey all of the passion you expect between two people in love, without any explicit scenes or harsh language.

In SUNSETS at SEASIDE…

Jessica Ayers has lived a sheltered life with little more than cello lessons and practices taking up her day. Now a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she escapes the prim and proper symphony to vacation in the Seaside community in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to determine if she is living life to the fullest or missing it altogether.

For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother—and falling in love is not in his plans.

From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sweet, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie’s business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the brown-haired beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie’s life—and his heart—upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away.

SWEET WITH HEAT: SEASIDE SUMMERS SERIES

Read, Write, Love at Seaside

Dreaming at Seaside

Hearts at Seaside

Sunsets at Seaside

Coming soon!

Secrets at Seaside (releasing October 25th)

Nights at Seaside (releasing December 13th)

Seized by Love at Seaside

Embraced at Seaside

Lovers at Seaside

Whispers at Seaside

Other Books in the Series


And coming October 2017...

About the Author


SIGN UP for ADDISON'S Sweet with Heat newsletter. Fun, flirty romance with a dash of heat.

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.


Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card or Paypal Cash (winners choice)

Open internationally
Ends September 10th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Blog Tour/Review/Interview: Safe House by Shannon Symonds



Safe House, by Shannon Symonds
2017, 292p, LDS Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



As a victim’s advocate, Grace James is used to rushing into trouble to save her victims from abuse or assault. And with a handsome officer like Joe Hart at her side, Grace is sure there’s nothing she can’t do. But an ominous storm brewing on the Oregon horizon is about to change everything-and bring with it dangers and revelations Grace and Joe never expected.

This is one of those books that took me a while to get into. Not because it wasn't interesting, because it was, but because of the subject matter. It's the story of Grace James, a victim's advocate, who works with victims of domestic abuse and violence.

The author did a great job of giving enough detail to let you know these women lived in bad situations without getting too graphic. I am fortunate to not have firsthand experience with this and cringed at what I read, while also realizing that the author didn't go too dark.

Grace, as well as some other characters, are LDS (or Mormon) so there are some religious references. Each of them are able to help the women and their families in different ways. Women in these situations can be misunderstood and blamed for the situation they are in and Ms. Symonds did a great job in humanizing them and helping the reader see how they can get there. She also shows the incredible courage it takes to accept help and gain control once more of their lives.

There are quite a few characters, and the story jumped back and forth between them. At times, that made it hard to remember which couple belonged to which situation, especially at the beginning. Once I could keep everyone straight, the story flowed better for me. There were some intense situations which kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next. I never felt like I could completely relax because I didn't know when certain characters would show up again.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It's heavier than what I've been reading lately, and I like the way the author handled the subject matter. There were lighter times that balanced out the heavier times, like family activities, light romance, and an overall feeling of hope. There were a few loose ends so hopefully there will be more!


Author Interview

1. Safe House is your debut novel. Have you written anything else?

You’re the first person to ask me!

Recently, I attended a book signing at a hospital where I worked last year. I confessed in front of a large group of friends that I had been a closet writer for years. I explained that I had written around 200 self-help articles for FamilyShare.com or Deseret Connect. I had written for the BillionClicks.org blog created by Hilary Weeks, singer and songwriter. I had also written lyrics to a love song which is on a CD sold on the coast. I am hoping the song stays hidden! The music is great but the lyrics are sappy.

I came home from the signing and told my mother my secret was out. I was no longer an anonymous writer. She laughed and told me I was meant to be a writer. She said even when I was a small child, if I got into trouble, I would write her an apology letter.

2. The Oregon Coast plays a role in the book. Why did you decide to place the story in a small town on the coast?

Several years ago, when I was a full-time advocate, helping with the local domestic violence shelter on occasion and responding to domestic assaults and sexual assaults over a hundred times a year, we had a rare and terrifying storm.

At the time of the storm phone lines went down, the roads flooded trapping the entire county inside county lines, winds of well over 100 mph blew sustained and kept anyone out of the area from even being able to fly over in a helicopter.

We were essentially cut off, except by ham radio. After the flooding withdrew, the roads were covered by mountains of large pine trees which had blown over or snapped off 16 feet in the air. Tsunami alarms went off, fire and police couldn’t navigate roads, 911 was down and you couldn’t call for help. During the storm, I decided it was the perfect setting for a story.

I also wrote about what I know. I know small town life by the sea.

3. Domestic violence is a difficult subject. Why did you write about it? What did you leave out of Safe House?

When I decided to write Safe House it served two purposes. Safe House, if well written would not only completely entertain the reader, it would inspire readers to care about survivors of intimate partner abuse.

You’re right, domestic violence is a difficult subject but the powerful story of survival, overcoming great odds and risking love after abuse is universal and inspiring.

What did I leave out of Safe House? Although it does contain scenes of domestic violence and abuse. I left out swearing, graphic sexual scenes and unnecessary violence for violence sake.
The scenes of abuse described in Safe House are necessary to the story and part of the honest struggle for freedom from abuse. They exist to create conflict, heroes and villains, and a basic understanding of the real plight of the survivors and their children. We all know the problem, but Safe House will be some people’s first look at a solution, hope and healing.

4. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Do not stop! Everyone told me I needed a day job. I shouldn’t have listened. I still work at a non-profit, but only do advocacy a few nights a week. I have, for the first time in my life put writing first. I should have done it years ago. Food is optional, right?

5. Is there anything else you would like to share with readers?

Haley Miller of Captures Photography worked with me on photographic art to tickle the book, raise awareness of domestic violence and send messages of hope to survivors. The photos were taken on the Oregon Coast. The models are friends and beautiful local women.

Below are pieces from Haley Miller Captures Photography’s work. They are free for the taking. You may copy, paste, print and post.






Reviews:

Meridian Magazine review of SAFE HOUSE by Shannon Symonds
Safe House by Shannon Symonds is not an easy book to read, but it is impossible to forget. It deals with the difficult subject of domestic abuse. If anyone has ever wondered why an abused spouse doesn’t just leave, this story will answer that question. An abused spouse is usually penniless and worries about how and where she’ll live if she leaves or worries about her or her children’s safety if she leaves and becomes homeless. Shattered self-esteem is another factor. This book also points out how to find help. It’s also a great story.” Jennie Hansen


5.0 out of 5 starsSymonds has crafted a book that is easy to read and infused with messages of hope and ...
ByAmazon Customeron July 19, 2017
Format: Paperback
“Safe House paints a poignant portrait of domestic violence centered in a close, coastal community. Multiple stories and perspectives weave together to showcase the ways abuse affects a victim along with their children, parents, other family members, neighbors, and the abusers themselves. The author's vivid, detailed writing style uses multi-sensory descriptions to transport the reader inside a character's physical and emotional experiences; for example, a climatic confrontation between victim and abuser set in a backyard garden. As a longtime victim advocate, Symonds is able to draw inspiration from her own intimate interactions with survivors, providing another layer of depth and meaning to Safe House. While tackling a hard and heartbreaking topic, Symonds has crafted a book that is easy to read and infused with messages of hope and resiliency.”

Shannon Symonds currently works as an Advocate serving victims of intimate partner or family violence. Shannon responds with law enforcement to the scene of domestic or sexual assaults, works with victims, accompanies them to the hospital and provides follow-up care. She is a trained trauma and recovery specialist, has completed the Oregon Coalition training as a professional advocate, has completed training as a parent educator, Head Start Teacher, early childhood education certification and one year program, an Associates Degree with an emphasis in Social Services, has worked and trained as an advocate for over 15 years total. She is the recipient of the Oregon Trial Lawyers award for her work to change housing for victims of domestic violence. She is a confident trainer and speaker, and is comfortable working with the public.


Tour Schedule: